National, regional and local sports briefs

CHICAGO - Chicago Bulls center Eddy Curry will miss the rest of the season after suffering an irregular heartbeat, the team and his doctors said Thursday.

That includes the team's first playoff appearance since 1998.

Doctors said they need six more weeks of tests to determine what caused the problem, which they said has not recurred since he returned to Chicago.

The 22-year-old has been sidelined since March 30 with the heart ailment.

South Effingham's Gomez headed to Gardner-Webb

South Effingham senior tennis player Jenny Gomez signed a letter of intent Wednesday with Division I Gardner-Webb (N.C.). Gomez was last year's Savannah Morning News Coastal Empire Player of the Year after compiling an 18-1 record at No. 1 singles. She led the Mustangs to a spot in the Class AAA state tournament quarterfinals.

Wake Forest's Paul plans to skip final two seasons for NBA

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - All-America point guard Chris Paul will give up his final two years of eligibility at Wake Forest and enter the NBA draft. He made the announcement Thursday at a news conference on campus, with nearly all his teammates and about 30 family members and friends in attendance.

Garrison expects Serena Williams to play in Fed Cup

BOCA RATON, Fla. - U.S. Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison expects Serena Williams to recover from an ankle injury and play in the team's first-round series against Belgium next week.

Garrison said Thursday she spoke to Williams' representatives, who termed the injury "just a slight little sprain."

Western Carolina reassigns Shurina, starts search for new coach

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Steve Shurina will not return for a sixth season as men's basketball coach at Western Carolina, the school said Thursday.

Shurina has been reassigned to a teaching position for the duration of his contract, which expires at the end of the 2005-06 season, assistant athletics director Mike Cawood said. Shurina was appointed coach in April 2000 and compiled a 48-97 record over five seasons.

South Carolina's Newton won't face charge for fight incident

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina wide receiver Syvelle Newton was involved in an incident with another student last weekend, but a criminal charge has been dropped, police said.

Newton allegedly punched Justin Williams of Wagener on a city street about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, a police incident report states. Williams said he was trying to "calm down several other people who were talking" when Newton struck him.

A recorder from municipal court issued a warrant for Newton's arrest on Monday. Williams decided to drop the charges on Wednesday.